Singapore’s K. Shanmugam, Vivian Balakrishnan demand apology from Lee Hsien Yang for ‘defaming’ them over rental saga

PM Lee’s brother, currently in self-exile overseas, had made comments on Facebook about a saga surrounding the rental of colonial-era bungalows by the ministers

Shanmugam and Balakrishnan had undergone separate anti-graft probes, which found no wrongdoing in with their respective leases of the houses

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Lee Hsien Yang has been embroiled in a public feud with his brother, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, since 2017. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:16pm, 27 Jul 2023Updated: 10:37am, 28 Jul 2023

Two Singapore veteran ministers, who were recently cleared of corruption over their rental of state-owned colonial bungalows, have threatened to sue the prime minister’s estranged brother Lee Hsien Yang over his comments about the saga.

Separate investigations by the country’s anti-corruption agency and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s senior political lieutenant had in June found that Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, and the Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, had committed no wrongdoing with their respective leases of the so-called black and white bungalows.

Lee Hsien Yang, currently in self-exile overseas following a years-long dispute with his brother, last Sunday had made some comments on Facebook about the rentals as part of a post eviscerating his brother’s leadership following a series of scandals within the ruling People’s Action Party.

Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (left) and Law Minister K. Shanmugam are seen in this composite picture. Photo: dpa, SCMP

Authorities then served a correction direction under the country’s fake news law, citing three falsehoods in the post – including one about the bungalow rentals. Lee abided by the order to put a correction notice, but in a subsequent post said he stood by what he said.

On Thursday, Shanmugam and Balakrishnan posted similar messages on Facebook, saying they had sent Lee Hsien Yang lawyers letters “for defaming us”.

“Lee Hsien Yang has accused us of acting corruptly and for personal gain by having Singapore Land Authority give us preferential treatment by illegally felling trees without approval, and also having SLA pay for renovations to 26 and 31 Ridout Road,” their posts said.

“These allegations are false. We have asked him to apologise, withdraw his allegations and pay damages, which we will donate to charity,” the two ministers said. “If he does not do so, we will sue him.”